Vanessa Bell Calloway
Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress and dancer. She is known for her film roles as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy Coming to America, as well as for her roles in What's Love Got to Do with It, The Inkwell, Crimson Tide, and Daylight. She is a nine-time NAACP Image Award nominee. She began her acting career in the ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children in 1985. After moving to Los Angeles in 1986, she began appearing in episodes of prime time shows such as The Colbys, Falcon Crest, 227, China Beach, A Different World, and L.A. Law. She made her film debut on Number One with a Bullet (1987), before supporting role of Eddie Murphy's character's arranged wife in the 1988 comedy Coming to America. In 1990, she co-starred alongside Joe Morton in the ABC drama series, Equal Justice. During the 1990s, she had a number of supporting roles in films, including What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) opposite Angela Bassett, The Inkwell (1994), and Crimson Tide (1995) as Denzel Washington's character wife. She also voiced main role in the 1992 animated comedy, Bébé's Kids. She had a number of leading and supporting roles in made for television movies. In 1995, she co-starred opposite James Earl Jones and Joe Morton in the short-lived CBS prime time soap opera, Under One Roof, the first drama series that featured African-American lead characters. For her role on the series, Calloway was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. She had leading roles on the short-lived NBC sitcom Rhythm & Blues (1992–93), and starred alongside Larry Hagman as his girlfriend in the CBS drama Orleans (1997). In the 2000s, she had recurring roles on Boston Public and The District. She co-starred in films including The Brothers, All About You, Dawg, Biker Boyz, Love Don't Cost a Thing, and Cheaper by the Dozen. She has guest starred on The Division, Strong Medicine, The Closer, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dexter, Rizzoli & Isles, Castle, and Grey's Anatomy. From 2010 to 2011, she had the recurring role in the TNT medical drama, Hawthorne. In 2011, she began appearing in the Showtime comedy-drama, Shameless. In 2016, she was cast as lead character in the Bounce TV first prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners. Also in 2016, she co-starred as president Obama's future mother-in-law, Marian Shields Robinson, and in the comedy-drama film Southside with You. In 2018, she appeared in the Christian drama film Unbroken: Path to Redemption and the crime thriller Dragged Across Concrete. In 2019, she played abolitionist Harriet Tubman's mother in the biographical drama film Harriet. She reprised her role as Imani Izzi in the 2021 sequel Coming 2 America.
Born: 20 March 1957
Played In
One of Them Days
Mama Ruth
Queens of Christmas
Julia Mason
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Idella Landy
The Vince Staples Show
Under the Boardwalk
Val (voice)
Black Girl, Erupted
Dr. Rebecca Francis
Wicked City
Tabitha
Sherri
Self - Guest
The Black Hamptons
Carolyn Britton
Mosquito
Eve
The Devil You Know
Della Cowans
Starkeisha
The Voice
Baby
Jackie
Grand Crew
Brenda
A Holiday Chance
Sheryl
Coming 2 America
Imani Izzi
Kenan
Bobbi
Saints & Sinners: Judgment Day
Ella
Harriet
Rit Ross
Unbelievable
Sarah
American Skin
Bernice
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Kiley's Mother
Dragged Across Concrete
Jennifer Johns
Black Monday
Ruth
Throwback Holiday
Mildred Anderson
The Conners
Carrie Langham
Her Only Choice
Dr. Bailey
Thriller
Mrs. Jackson
Unbroken: Path to Redemption
Lila Burkholder
Love, Once and Always
Isabel
Message From a Mistress
Heather
The Preacher's Son
Elena
This Is Us
Edie
This Is Us
Edie (uncredited)
Southside with You
Marian Robinson
Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story
Josephine
Saints & Sinners
Lady Ella Johnson
The Bounce Back
Ellen
Divas!
Wendy
To Hell and Back
The Divorce
Eva
Holla 2
Marion
Between Sisters
Lillian
Go On
Joyce
The Obama Effect
Molly Thomas
A Beautiful Soul
Guardian Angel
The Last Fall
Marie Bishop
The Undershepherd
Deaconess Carter
Ringer
Royce Wiegler
Harry's Law
Jude Campbell
Let's Stay Together
Shameless
Carol Fisher
Rizzoli & Isles
Assistant District Attorney
Good Hair
Self
Castle
Beryl Wickfield
Lakeview Terrace
Aunt Dorrie
Stompin'
Mrs. Jackson
Dexter
Crisis Counselor
The Closer
Lynn Talmadge
Grey's Anatomy
Lucinda Gamble
Black in the 80s
Self
Cheaper by the Dozen
Diana Philips
Love Don't Co$t a Thing
Vivian Johnson
Cold Case
Geraldine Watkins (1970)
10-8: Officers on Duty
Gina Barnes
Joan of Arcadia
Corey Phillips
NCIS
Sally Hammond
Biker Boyz
Anita
CSI: Miami
Tonya Washington
Dawg
Christine Hodges
The Red Sneakers
Berniece
One on One
Michelle McCall
All About You
Donna Taylor
The Brothers
Dr. Thelma Woolridge
The Division
Dana
Love Song
Evie Livingston
Boston Public
Mrs. Michelle Ronning
The District
Gwen Hendrix
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Judge Himmel
A Private Affair
Nikka
Strong Medicine
Melanie Rhodes
The Parkers
The Temptations
Johnnie Mae Matthews
Archibald the Rainbow Painter
Diana
Prey
The View
Self
Orleans
Rosalee Clark
The Cherokee Kid
Abby Holsopple
Daylight
Grace Calloway
Malcolm & Eddie
America's Dream
Miss Williams (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")
Moesha
Dr. Woods
Crimson Tide
Julia Hunter
Under One Roof
Maggie Langston
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Princess Katusha (voice)
Touched by an Angel
Debra Willis
The Inkwell
Francis Phillips
Diagnosis: Murder
Mrs. Calender
The Sinbad Show
What's Love Got to Do with It
Jackie
Where I Live
Rhythm & Blues
Bebe's Kids
Jamika (voice)
Stompin' at the Savoy
Dorothy
Memphis
Martha Kinship
Why Colors?
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
Polly: Comin' Home!
Nancy Dodds
Dream On
Jeanette
Max Monroe: Loose Cannon
Velma Jones
Polly
Nancy
Death Spa
Marci Hewitt
Coming to America
Imani Izzi
China Beach
The Return of Desperado
Molly Pickett
A Different World
Lily Connors
A Different World
Danielle Vinson
Number One with a Bullet
Woman
L.A. Law
Robyn Edwards
The Colbys
227
Falcon Crest
Nurse
Simon & Simon
The Wonderful World of Disney
Nancy